Donavan Tate, the third overall pick in the June draft, wasn't Mark McGwire in his first batting practice with the Padres yesterday, fouling off numerous pitches and failing to go deep in expansive Petco Park.

But he wasn't Matt Bush, either.

Bush's first workout after being the No. 1 overall pick out of Mission Bay High in 2004 is legendary among Padres veterans, from the way he strutted around the infield to air-mailing a throw over first base to taking a dozen swings in the batting cage instead of the usual six. And it went downhill from there, ending in Bush's outright release last April after several brushes with the law.

No veterans were grumbling about “the kid” yesterday, meaning the 18-year-old from Cartersville, Ga., showed the proper amount of respect and humility.

“He seems like a really good kid, he really does,” said outfielder Tony Gwynn, who chaperoned Tate through the hourlong workout. “He asks a lot of questions, which is a good sign for someone his age.

“The first thing he asked was: ‘How many (swings are) we taking?’ ”

Tate officially inked a contract yesterday that includes a $6.25 million signing bonus, nearly double the previous Padres record for a draft pick. That was the $3.15 million given to Bush.

Tate shook his head when asked if he knew much about the Bush fiasco in San Diego.

“No,” he said.

Tate's large signing bonus may be part of a Padres push to build from within, but it also was likely a function of his leverage. He had accepted a scholarship to play both football and baseball at North Carolina, even reporting to the Tar Heels' preseason football camp earlier this month when negotiations stalled. He was working out with the quarterbacks at UNC; the last time he had swung a bat was late June.

“It feels good to finally have a decision and know my plans for the future,” said Tate, the son of star Georgia running back Lars Tate. “It's a hard decision. It's was definitely tough. But I just love baseball right now. That's my priority.

“If you know me, when I make a decision I stick by it.”

Gwynn and Adrian Gonzalez spent time counseling Tate yesterday. He asked both for their “best advice” before he was scheduled to report to the Padres' rookie club in Peoria, Ariz., today.

“I just told him that baseball is a grind,” Gwynn said. “This is the first time he's playing games on an everyday basis. And if he doesn't get off to a good start, don't panic. Let the process run its course. The less you try to force it, the better off you are.”

Notable

•One month to the day after a beanball put him on the disabled list with vertigo, Padres utilityman
Edgar Gonzalez
is expected to be sent out on a minor league rehab assignment today. Most likely, Gonzalez will be limited to five-inning stints in his first few outings.

•Not yet ready to return is right fielder
Brian Giles
, who reported continued soreness in his right knee.

•The time of the Sept. 6 game at the Dodgers, listed as TBA on many schedules, has been set at 5:09 p.m. after being picked up by ESPN2 as a Sunday night telecast.

•Monday's comeback win marked the fourth time this season the Padres won a game that they trailed entering the ninth inning, tying the highest such total in the major leagues, according to Elias Sports Bureau.